Guinness enters Maryland lawmakers' beer debate

[TexasTowelie]

A battle over beer is brewing in Annapolis.

State lawmakers are faced with competing proposals to change the rules for breweries, which have exploded in popularity in recent years as drinkers turn away from mass-produced corporate beers in favor of craft brews.

And there's a big new player in the debate this year: Diageo, the international liquor giant that owns the Guinness beer brand and plans to open a brewery and taproom in an old rum bottling plant in Relay.

"We want to create a world-class beer tourism destination," said Dwayne Kratt, Diageo's senior director of state government affairs.

Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-guinness-brewery-bills-20170217-story.html